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The Word of God in the Life of the Church: Achievements of the Baptist and Catholic Dialogue, 2006-2010Seton Hall > News & Events

Friday, March 28, 2014 by: Catholic Studies

Bishop Arthur Serratelli.
Dr. Timothy George.

The Department of Catholic Studies, in cooperation with the Commission on Christian Unity of the Archdiocese of Newark, will present "The Word of God in the Life of the Church: Achievements of the Baptist and Catholic dialogue, 2006-2010" on April 10, 2014 at 2 p.m. in the Beck Rooms, Walsh Library. Most Rev. Arthur Serratelli, Bishop of Paterson and Co-Chairman of the International Baptist-Catholic Dialogue, and Dr. Timothy George, Dean of Beeson Divinity School, Samford University and Member of the International Baptist-Catholic Dialogue, will speak on the panel. This program is also co-sponsored by the New Jersey Catholic Historical Commission.

Since Vatican II, the Catholic Church and the Baptist World Alliance
have engaged in two phases of international Baptist–Catholic dialogue.
The first phase, 1984-1988, published a report entitled "Summons to
Witness to Christ in Today’s World."

The second phase, 2006-2010, on which the program focuses, published
its report entitled "The Word of God in the Life of the Church." That
report addressed controversial issues between Baptists and Catholics
since the sixteenth century Reformation. These include the relationship
between Scripture and tradition, Baptism and the Lord's Supper/
Eucharist, the role of Mary in the Church, the Ministry of Oversight and
Unity in the life of the Church. Pope Benedict XVI encouraged the
dialogue members when he met them on December 6, 2007, saying "If our
hope for reconciliation and greater fellowship between Baptists and
Catholics is to be realized, issues such as these need to be faced
together, in a spirit of openness, mutual respect and fidelity to the
liberating truth and saving power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ." The
report shows the important areas of consensus and convergence, as well
as the continuing differences on these issues discovered by the
dialogue. Bishop Arthur Serratelli and Dr. Timothy George, who both participated in
this dialogue, will present their views on its importance and its
achievements.

About the Department of Catholic StudiesEstablished in 2012 — the Year of Faith and the 50th anniversary of
the opening of Vatican II — the Department of Catholic Studies at Seton Hall University, America's oldest diocesan university, fosters Seton
Hall’s Catholic identity and mission by exploring the relationship of
Catholicism with all areas of culture and learning. Since its focus is
the Church’s encounter and dialogue with society, or the Church in the
world, Vatican II designated a special place for Catholic Studies as a
discipline in academic life. As a result, Catholic Studies is a dialogue
between Catholicism and culture that occurs in a special way at
Catholic universities. While respecting other disciplines, Catholic
Studies explores theology and philosophy in relation to culture,
humankind and the world. This methodological approach opens up a place
for all other disciplines; these enrich Catholic Studies and are
enriched in return. Catholic Studies builds upon and develops the themes
and questions addressed in the University Core Curriculum and is
complementary to other disciplines. A bachelor’s degree in Catholic
Studies is an interdisciplinary, liberal arts degree — a major that
enhances every other major.

Seton Hall is the first university in the eastern United States to
create a Department of Catholic Studies. In December 2013, the Holy
Father, Pope Francis, imparted the Apostolic Blessing to Seton Hall
University on the occasion of the establishment of the Department of
Catholic Studies. This makes Seton Hall the first and only university in
the United States to claim such a rare honor.